Stereothematica

Christina & Christine
  • 5.0 (15)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Stereothematica, a podcast where two women geek out over music. When Christina moved from LA to Texas, Christine suggested a weekly challenge to stay in touch: pick a song that fits a chosen theme. This game opened them to new perspectives on each other while deepening their own understanding of the music that shapes their lives. Each week Christina and Christine recreate the magic of their song exchange on a broader scale, deconstructing their thematic picks, providing personal anecdotes and historical insights, and sharing transformative tracks rarely spotlighted on the Billboard Hot 100.

  1. MAR 10

    Ten Years Ago

    Can you remember what you were listening to in 2016? It was a different world, an end of an era, a sad time, in fact, a shit year, some might say–we say it pretty unequivocally. But the music we listened to provided an escape, relief, and sometimes just a pleasant enough distraction. Join us on this (brief) trip down memory lane! SONGS: Julia Jacklin: Pool Party (2016) Gal Costa: ​​Vou Recomeçar (1969) RESOURCES AND REFERENCES: Pitchfork The 100 Best Songs of 2016 Solange: Cranes in the Sky What Are The Filming Locations of Solange's Latest Album? Pitchfork’s Ryan Schreiber shaped Internet music journalism and now leaves it behind (2019) NPR Obituary for Gal Costa (2022) Interview with Gal Costa (2020) Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    20 min

  2. MAR 3

    Resistance is NOT Futile

    As we established back in March of last year, all protest songs are love songs! If you're confused, check out the episode. And if you're intrigued, join us for this week's sweeping statement: Resistance is NOT futile. The world might seem like it's imploding. You might be mad as hell (we are). So join us, and the resistance. We need you.  SONGS: Nina Simone: Mississippi Goddam (Live at Carnegie Hall, 1964) Le Tigre: Hot Topic (1999)  RESOURCES AND REFERENCES: Nina Simone’s LIVE Performance of Mississippi Goddam at the Antibes Jazz Festival (1965)  The Story Behind Nina Simone’s Protest Song Mississippi Goddam The Story Behind the Anthem Rev Left Radio Podcast - Nina Simone: The Revolutionary High Priestess of Soul (2019) Riot Grrrl United Feminism and Punk. Here’s an Essential Listening Guide (NYT) “Hot Topic”: The Complete Annotated Lyrics When Racism And Sexism Are No Longer Fashionable, How Much Will Your Art Collection Be Worth? Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    24 min

  3. FEB 24

    Nepo Babies

    "Nepo babies." Pejorative term or celebration of creative lineage? We don't care, as long as the outcome is good! And the outcome from our nepo baby musicians is, indeed, good. Whether your parents are indie folk legends or you're part of Hollywood royalty.... it doesn't really matter to us. Keep making the hits!   SONGS: Going to a Town: Rufus Wainwright (2007)  Coconut Records (Jason Schwartzman): Any Fun (2009) RESOURCES AND REFERENCES: Billie Eilish's Mom Maggie Baird Claps Back at "Nepo Baby" Label Louden Wainwright III - Dead Skunk (1972) Folk Singer Kate McGarrigle Dies At 63  Rufus Wainwright interview in the Sunday Times Between My Legs: Rufus Wainwright's Phantom Nod Going to a Town Wikipedia page Bored to Death Opening Credits (HBO) Phantom Planet: California (2001) Jason Schwartzman on The Treat with Elvis Mitchell (KCRW- 2025) Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    34 min

  4. FEB 17

    To Another Place

    One of the things we love most about music is its power to transport. It can carry us somewhere locational, philosophical, psychological, even quantal (as we explored more overtly in our Time Machine episode). A single song can shift the room, unlock memories, or reveal a door we didn’t even know was there. Music is the vessel that cracks open our hearts and minds, taking us on a long and winding road to anywhere. SONGS: Tinariwen: Amassakoul 'N' 'Ténéré (2004) The Balfa Brothers: Le Danse de Mardi Gras (1967) RESOURCES AND REFERENCES: Tinariwen Webpage  Electric Blues Desert Refugees by Nate Seltenrich (Pop Matters) Rebel Blues in the Sahara: A Desert Guitar Primer by Joe Tangari (Pitchfork) Songs of Exile and Resistance by Andy Morgan (Al Jazeera) A Review of Psychological and Neuroscientific Research on Musical Groove (Science Direct) Justin Adams:Fantastical Deaths and Spectacular Rebirths by Farhad Mirza (Guernica) Tinariwen: Chet Boghassa (another fave) Tinariwen: Sastanàqqàm (another fave) Rebellion and Fragmentation in Northern Mali Rebel Music: The Tuareg Uprising in 12 Songs by Tinariwen by Rollo Romig   History of Cajun Mardi Gras What is Courir de Mardi Gras? The Cajun Country celebration is rooted in Medieval France Festival Acadiens Official Website History of Cajun Music 'La Danse de Mardi Gras' Song Lyrics and Meaning PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS: I Said No Gifts Off Menu Anna and Isabella Do Improv (Pronounced Ahnna, sorry!) Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    34 min

  5. FEB 10

    Chills

    Brr. Did someone just open a window? Or did I catch a crazy vibe from this funky ass song? Ok enough silliness. This week we deep dive into the songs that give us the literal chills. You know, the type of song that makes the hairs on your arm stand up. A song that makes you sit up a little straighter... makes you "lock in" as the youth say. And no, we DIDN'T just explore this theme with "Visceral." That's different. We insist.  SONGS: Herbie Hancock: Watermelon Man (1973) Rosalía: Berghain (2025) RESOURCE AND REFERENCES: Watermelon Man - 1962 version Hindewhu flute performance The Ethan Hein Blog - Watermelon Man Herbie Hancock on Watermelon Man Watermelon Sacrifice at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Pygmy POP. A Genealogy of Schizophonic Mimesis Rosalia Explains Lux: 13 Languages! Heartbreak! Betrayal! Björk! (& ‘Euphoria’) - Popcast What Do Rosalia’s Lyrics Actually Mean By Michelle Santiago Cortes Rosalía's Berghain is a thunderous goth-pop hit -- but is it opera? By Laura Snapes (The Guardian) Rosalia’s Lux is Operatic, but is it Opera? By Joshua Barone (NYT) Another article by Snapes wherein Rosalía is quoted as being “hot for God” (The Guardian) Decoding the Language and Saints of Rosalías Lux (The Glottal Stop) Lux: An exploration of divine femininity NOT centered around ability to reproduce (Reddit) Spirituality and song: What Rosalía’s ‘Lux’ says about sainthood by Hannah Rich (Theos) Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Winter) Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    35 min

  6. FEB 3

    Visceral

    Music has the power to soothe, excite, stir emotions, or make you get up and dance! And sometimes it elicits a visceral reaction that you weren't expecting... even after the umpteenth time you've heard the song. That's right, this week, we're talking about songs that wreak havoc on your nervous system. SONGS: David Bowie: Blackstar (2015)  Bjork: hyperballad (1996) REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: Tony Visconti Talks About How Blackstar Was Made Jay Mills’ Drum Cover of Blackstar The Guardian Review of Blackstar Video (2015) David Bowie: Lazarus (2016) A thank you letter to David Bowie from a palliative care doctor Johan Renck on directing Bowie’s final videos Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) On David Bowie’s Blackstar, Turning to Jazz for Inspiration by Nate Chinen (2016) Bjork’s Interview in Record Collector Magazine (2002) "Hyperballad" stands the test of time... and honestly, we've yet to reach its time (The Unfortified Castle) The XFM Top 1,000 Songs of All Time Bjork's theory about paparazzi culture Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    39 min

  7. JAN 27

    Made Up Words

    Fa La La. Shoo ba doo bee. MmmmBOP! Did you read those out loud just now? Congratulations. You can scat! All jokes aside, this week we’re focused on made up words in music! Some of the greatest hits of all time have a nonsensical word (or two!) in their lyrics, and we’re deep diving into some of our favorites in this episode!  SONGS:  Ooh Poo Pah Doo: Jessie Hill  Serge Gainsbourg: Shu Ba Du Ba Loo Ba (1966) EXTRAS: Non-lexical vocables in music Kim Cattrall Scatting Twin Peaks Leland Palmers "Mairzy Doats" Just Judy: Judy Hill, I Wanna Tell You About Ooh Poo Pah Doo  Trombone Shorty on Treme - “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” Jessie Hill article in Gambit France Gall - Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son - Eurovision Winner 1965 Gainsbourg and Birkin: Je t’aime…moi non plus (1969)  Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life - Trailer (2011) Juliette Greco: La Javanaise (1963) Gainsbourg: La Javanaise (1968) Gainsbourg's 20 Most Scandalous Moments  Gainsbourg & Greco Clip for Biopic (2011) Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    35 min

  8. JAN 20

    Let's Be Honest AKA Unpopular Music Opinions

    We’re not making any friends with this episode. But hopefully we don’t lose any either.  We’re just being honest…and mildly obnoxious. Please listen until the end (unless you’re a Swiftie!). SONGS: Tom Waits: All the World is Green (2002)  Beyonce: 7/11 (2014) EXTRAS: Live Circus Live at Jacksonville (2008) Tom Waits Library   Tom Waits - IMDb Cinematic Appearances of Tom Waits and His Music Tom Waits Glitter and Doom Press Conference (2008) Tom Waits: Grapefruit Moon (1973) Night on Earth Soundtrack (1991)  Interview with Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan (1981) Tom Waits: Way Down in the Hole (1987) The Wire: Season 1 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (The Blind Boys of Alabama) The Wire: Season 2 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (Tom Waits) The Wire: Season 3 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (The Neville Brothers) The Wire: Season 4 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (DoMaJe) The Wire: Season 5 Opening Credits -  Way Down in the Hole (Steve Earle) Story behind David Simon Choosing Way Down in the Hole for The Wire Destiny's Child - Say My Name (1999) Beyonce's 2018 Coachella performance The Politics Behind Beyonce’s 2018 Coachella Performance Cultural impact of Beyoncé Wikipedia  Solange Has Built a Creative Empire. Now She’s Bringing Her Work Home Solange's speech during Eldorado Ballroom performance in Houston, TX, in June 2025 Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)! If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement. And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

    37 min
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About

Welcome to Stereothematica, a podcast where two women geek out over music. When Christina moved from LA to Texas, Christine suggested a weekly challenge to stay in touch: pick a song that fits a chosen theme. This game opened them to new perspectives on each other while deepening their own understanding of the music that shapes their lives. Each week Christina and Christine recreate the magic of their song exchange on a broader scale, deconstructing their thematic picks, providing personal anecdotes and historical insights, and sharing transformative tracks rarely spotlighted on the Billboard Hot 100.

Information

  • Creator
    Christina & Christine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stereothematica
  • Show Website
    Stereothematica